Decline in Marriages Due to COVID-19

The number of marriages in Singapore decreased by 10.9% last year, amid disruptions to daily life caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, including restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of the virus, according to a report by Bloomberg news on Wednesday. The Asian country, one of the most successful in containing COVID-19, reduced wedding ceremonies and receptions last year as part of broader social distancing measures and restrictions on gatherings. The total number of marriages in 2020 dropped to 22,651, as reported by the Department of Statistics on Wednesday. Like many other advanced economies, Singapore's population is aging, remaining single for longer periods, and having fewer children, according to census data released last month. From 2010 to 2020, the population recorded a growth of 1.1%, the slowest growth decade since independence.